Vehicle



Il IMIMIH 4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

' @vae/5.2919

SIPaented Mar.v8, 1892.

III

(No Model.)

(NO Mod'L) 4 Sheets- Sheet v2.

H.L.v BOYLE.- VEHICLE.

Noi.'.4"'70,175. 'Patented Mai'. 8, 1892.

l www n (No Model.) 4 'Sheets-sheet s.

- H. L. BOYLE.

. VEHICLE. No. 470,175. Patented Mar. 8, 1892.

(No Model.) 4 Smets-'sheetA 4,

- H. L. BOYLB.

VEHICLE.

No. 470,175. Patented Mx'. 8, 1892.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IIOMER L. BOYLE, OF GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN.

VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 470,175, dated March 8, 1892.

Application filed April 18, 1891 To @ZZ whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, HOMER L. BOYLE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Grand Rapids,in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to vehicles and cars, and has for its objects the provision of means by which they may be operated by the use of steam or vapor engines or other motive power. l attain these obj ects by the mechanism illustrated in the drawings, in Which- Figure l is a sectional View of the runninggear and my devices for operating the same, the body of the car located thereon and partally cut away to show its interior construction and arrangement. Fig. 2 is a top view of the running-gear of a car with the bedplate and the several devices constituting my invention for operating the same, being the same as Fig. l, except that the body of the car has been removed. Fig. 3 is a front and detail view of the forward truck of the car with its axle, gearing', and sprocketwheel. Fig. 4 is a top view of the runninggear o f a vehicle provided with a bed-plate, motive power, and the various devices constituting my invention for operating the same. Fig. 5 is a detail view of the friction-gearing employed for my device. Fig. 6 is adetailview of a band provided with friction-rollers. Fig. 7 is a sectional view upon the linesx of Fig. 4 and is provided with a representation of the body of the carriage and springs.

In my invention I employ as the motive power a steam or gas engine, motor, or other power that can be used for giving reciprocal or rotary motion. I prefer to employ a gasengine such as that described in my pending application for Letters Patent of the United States, iled March 2,1891, Serial No. 383,501, and in the accompanying drawings I have shown that form of engine.

The letters A represent the ordinary carwheels or wheels of a vehicle attached to their axles C.

The letter B' represents the bed-plate. The bed-plate rests upon the axle of the rear wheels by means of collars or sleeves and a Serial No. 389,429. (No model.)

the wheel N by a crank-pin, so that as the piston-rod reciprocates it causes the wheel N and its connections to rotate in a given direction. The wheel N and the geanwheel M are rigidly fixed upon the shaft S, which is supported in bearings in the brackets T T'. This shaft S carries a pinion G, which fits loosely thereon and is held in place by a collar l, and a bracket T', it being so located as to mesh with the gear-Wheel H. The pinion G is provided with a hub 0r shank, which extends in a conical form to be received and fitted into a sleeve G', which is located upon the shaft S. The sleeve is provided with a groove, in which fits a spline upon the shaft, so that the sleeve G is capable of longitudinal motion upon the shaft, but is otherwise firmly afxed thereto. In the exterior surface of the sleeve G' is cut a groove g, in which is fitted a lug g', which is attached to a lever F', pivotally fastened to the bed-plate at f', the upper end of this rod or lever being connected by rods with a hand-lever L', so that by the movement of said lever L' the clutch-sleeve G' may be forced upon the conical projecting hub of the pinion G, which will be caused to accept the corresponding motion of the sleeve.

Rigidly attached to the rear axle C is the gear-wheel H, which, as already explained, meshes with the pinion, G and also meshes with the gear-wheel I, whose journals are supported in bearings n. Upon the upper surface vof this bevel-gearing I is rigidly attached a sprocket-wheel, upon which is operated an endless chain J, which connects With a corresponding sprocket-wheel rigidly attached to the bevel-gearing I', which meshes with the gear-Wheel I-I' located uponthe front axle of the car. The two bevel-gearings I I' and their respective sprocket-wheels are located at the exact center of their respective axles.

lool

For the purpose of controlling the speed of the car and causing it to reach a maximum or minimum speed instead of using the gear wheel II in the form shown in Fig. 2 a gear wheel with two or more sets of gearing, as shown in Figset and 7, may be employed, and the pinion G may be provided with a peripheral groove and means for causing it to recede from or approach the axle C, so as to engage with either series of teeth of the several gear-ings.

For the purpose of guiding the car and enabling the front truck to conform to the curve in the track I have provided means for communicating power to the wheels of the front truck and also causing it to turn upon the central king-bolt, which sustains it in place. Upon the upper surface of the gear-wheels I I are located integrally or permanently the sprocket-wheels t and 5, the centers of which correspond exactly to the centers of the axles C C, and the power communicated toV the sprocketwheel 4 is communicated to the sprocket-wheel 5 by an endless chain J, as above set forth, and it will be seen that this power will operate the front wheels A whether the front axle is parallel with the rear one or is on a variant line therewith, the sprocket-wheel 5 operating the gear-wheel I', which meshes with the geai wheel Il', which is permanently affixed to the front axle C. Held and supported firmly by brackets R R', which are firmly attached to the bedplate, is the journal 3, provided with a pinion M', which meshes with the gearwheel fm. Upon the shaft 3 at its front end is located a double friction-gearing cl, which is provided with a spline or feather tting in a groove or keyway in the shaft 3 and b eing capable of longitudinal motion upon but revolving with the sleeve G. Upon the hub or sleeve of the gearing CZ is placed a sleeve or ccllar 7, and it is held at approximately the center of the sleeve by the two coiled springs located, respectively, upon each side of said sleeve or collar. Pivotally attached to the sleeve or collar 7 is a lever F, which is pivotally attached to a bracket fastened to the bed-plate B, as shown in Fig. l. At the upper extremity of this lever F it is connected by a rod with a lever L, so that by the operation of that lever the collar 7 may be moved forward or backward upon the sleeve 6, causing the double friction-gearing d to move longitudinally in one or the other direction upon the shaft 3. Interposed between the two sections of the double friction-gearing d is a friction-pinion d', supported upon the axle 8, which is held in bearings attached to the bed-plate B. This shaft 8 is provided with a screw-thread 9, which engages with the spur-gear B. The spur-gear B is supported upon a shaft lO, the lower end of which is located in a bearing in the bedplate and the upper portion of which is supported by the lng 1l, attached to the permanent post l2. Beneath the spur-gear B and upon the same shaft is located a sprocketwheel 13, engaging with a chain 'L' t', which is attached to the extreme ends of the front axle C by means of springs t" t.

Instead of employing the clutch. device G and G for communicating the motive power to the gearing located upon the axles of the vehicle or car, there may be employed throughout the double frictiongearing devices already referred to with reference to the steeringor guiding mechanism, as above illustrated and described. In Figa the arrangement of the motive power is the same as that already described, except that it is located in a direct line with the movement of the vehicle and the primary motion or power is communicated to the shaft lt, as is shown. This shaft 14 held in position and carries its various devices by means of brackets, which are irlnl y affixed to the bed-plate of the vehicle. There is located upon it a double :friction-gearing D, with its hub or sleeve and the sleeve or collar upon said hub and supported on each side by two coiled springs, as shown. At the extreme end of the shaft 1-1- is located the conical friction-pinion D, so adjusted as to easily engage the double friction-gearing D. Upon the axle C, Fig. 4, is located the gear-wheel ll, which, as is shown, is provided with a central bevel-gearing and two exterior horizontal gearings, this gear-wheel H being firmly attached to the axle C. Journaled in the clip or hanger XV and in the bracket E is located the shaft E. Upon the rear end of this shaft is placed the pinion G, provided with a heel or hub containing a spline, which tits in a longitudinal groove in the shaft, so that the pinion G is ycapable of longitudinal movement toward and from the axle C and may be made to engage with the central bevel-gearing or the external gearings of the gear-wheel H. This movementis effected by a rod f, connected with the pinion G by means of the lever F and the V- shapcd portion F, pivotally attached to said lever F. The movement of the double friction-gearing D is controlled by a rod 15, pivotally connected with the lever L and the pawl and ratchet R. Supported in brackets e c', which are tirmly attached to the bedplate B, is the shaft e, carrying at its rear end the conical friction-pinion fl and at its reverse end the bevel-pinion g, which latter engages with a piniont' upon the shaft 8, provided with ascrew-thread 9, that engages with the teeth of the sectory'.

The angular lever ais pivoted to the bedplate at 16, and its Y- shaped end grasps and holds the collar or sleeve supported upon the hub of the double friction-gearing CZ between the respective springs upon said hub, as

shown. The rod f, which is also pivotally connected with the angular lever a', is attached to an arm at the base of the lever L, which is journaled in the bed-plate and also in a bearing in plate 17. The plate 17 is provided with openings into which a pin which is operated by the lever L is admitted, so as IOO TIO

IZO

to hold the parts in any given position, the lever L being provided with a crank-arm, as shown. The lever F is connected with the lever K, as shown, which may be operated by the foot.

Having thus described the various parts of the device constituting my invention, I now erator desires to start the vehicle or car, he

seizes the lever L and forces the sleeve G upon the conical point of the hub lof the gearing G. The motion of the wheel M, which is operated by tb'e pitman and wristpin of the engine, at once communicates its motion to the pinion-G, which, meshing with the gear-Wheel H, communicates motion to the axle C and the wheel A, which are rigidly attached to it. This motion is also communicated to the gear-Wheels I, and,by means of the sprocket-wheel land theendless chain J, to the sprocket-wheel 5, and thence to the gear-wheel H', permanentlylocated upon the front axlea/ It is evident that when the operator desires lto stop the motion of the car he reverses the lever L' and disengagesf the clutch, so that while the motion of the wheels M and N may continue the pinion Gceases to rotate or communicate power. In like manner when it is desired to cause the front axle and wheels to conform to a curve of the track or to change the direction of the vehicle, as the case be, the operator employs the lever L,

causing the lever F to press one of the inte-- rior faces of the double friction-gearingd against the conical friction-pinion CZ', thereby communicating motion to it and the shaft 8, upon which is located the screw-thread 9. This engages the spul-gear c and, by means of its sprocket-wheel and the sprocket-chain t', causes the axlesof the front wheels to conform to the curve'of the track to the right or left, as the case may be, the springs t" enone of the interior-faces of its bevel-gearingV to come in contact with the conical bevel-pinion D,which receives its motion from the i cylinderP through the piston and pitmanrod 'and the wheel O. Itis evident that a forward or reverse motion' may be thus communicated to the double friction-gearing D,

depending upon which of its faces is brought into frictional contact with D. The motion of the shaft E communicates motion to the bevel-pinion G, which, meshing with the gearing H, communicates motion to the axle C and the wheels A, located upon it.

It is important that some means shall be provided for graduating the speed of the car or vehicle, while the power of the engine or cylindermay remain constant. This is effected by a gear-wheel H, which has one or more exterior gearings capable of meshing with the pinion G, and the gearing G may be made to mesh with eitherof these gearings by means of the lever K and the lever F. The pinion G, being capable of longitudinal motion on the journal E, maybe retracted, so as to mesh with either series of teeth in the compound gearwheel H. The lever L is provided with the ordinary pawl and ratchet, so as to hold it in any given position. For the purpose of changing the direction of the front axle and wheels the double friction-gearing d, meshing with the friction-pinion CZ', communicates motion through the pinion g to the shaft 8, and the screw-thread 9, engaging the sector j, changes the direction of the axle C. This is effected or collars ct and 7 require considerable forcefor their operation, and are consequently liable to considerable wear, I insert on each side of them between the adjacent springs anti-friction rollers, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, the construction of which is apparent.

It is evident that there may be changes and modifications in the construction of many parts and their arrangement in myinvention without departing from the spirit thereof. Thus the gear-wheel of the rear axle may be loose instead of fixed, and the clutch, instead of being 'located upon the power-supplying shaft and engaging the hub G, maybe located upon the rear axle and engage with a hub ofthe gear-wheel H, whereby that gear-wheel may be made to revolve. I therefore do not limit myself to the specific construction shown.

Having therefore described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to protect by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a car or vehicle, a bed-plate supported on the two axles thereof and their wheels, each axle provided with a fixed gear-wheel, and means for communicating the motion of the xed gear-wheel on one axle to that on the other, in combination with a power-supplying shaft provided with a loose gear-wheel meshing with the gear-wheel of the rear axle, also with a clutch adjustable longitudinally on said shaftand revolved therewith by means of a spline and groove, a lever operating said adjustable sleeve or collar, so as to engage or IOO IIC

disengage said clutch with said loose gearwheel, and means for operating and revolving said shaft and the devices aiiixed thereto, all substantially as shown.

2. In a car or vehicle, a bed-plate supported on the axles thereof and their wheels, ueach axle provided with a fixed gear-wheel, and means for communicating the motion of the fixed gear-wheel on one axle to that on the other, in combination with a power-supplying shaft provided with a gear-wheel meshing with the fixed gear-wheel of the rear axle, also with a clutch adjustable longitudinally on said shaft and revolving thereon by means of a spline and groove, said clutch provided with an annular groove, a lever engaging in said groove and operating said adjustable clutch, so as to engage or disengage the same with or from said loose gear-wheel, brackets attached to said bed-plate and supporting said powersupplying shaft in place, and means for operating and revolving said shaft and the devices affixed thereto, all substantially as shown.

In acar orvehicle, a bed-plate supported by collars or hangers upon the rear axle and its wheels and pivotally attached to the front axle and its wheels at and above the center of said axle, said axles each provided with a gear-wheel, in combination with two compound gear and sprocket wheels, each meshing, respectively, with said gear-wheels of the axles, and the sprocket-wheels connected and operated uniformly by an endless chain, the compound gear and sprocket wheels supported by vertical journals and bearings, whereby the motion or revolution of the gear-wheel of the rearaxle is communicated to that of the front axle unaffected by any change of direction of the front axle, all substantially as shown.

4f. In a car or vehicle, a bed-plate supported by collars or hangers upon the rear axle and its wheels and pivotally attached to the front axle and its wheels at the center of said axle, said rear axle provided with a fixed gear- Wheel, in combination with ashaft supported by brackets, said shaft provided at one end with agear-wheel meshing with said pinion and revolving with it by means of a spline and groove, a rod and lever connected to said adjustable gear-wheel, a double friction-gearing provided with a sleeve carried upon said shaft and adjustable longitudinally thereon, but revolving with it by means of a spline and groove, a power-supplying shaft provided with a friction-pinion at one end engaging said double friction-gearing, and means for operating and revolving said power-supplying shaft and the several parts engaging and connecting therewith, all substantially as shown.

5. In a caror vehiele,a bed-plate supported on the axles and wheels thereof, the rear axle provided with a compound gearing having more than one series of gear-teeth, in combination with a shaft carrying at one end an adjustable pinion with, beveled and horizontal teeth capable of engaging either series of the fixed gearing of the axle,a lever connected to said pinion bya rod, whereby said adjustable pinion may be controlled and made to mesh with either series of teeth in said compound gearing, all substantially as shown.

6. In aear or vehicle, the combination of a gear-wheel rigidly affixed to the rear axle of said car or vehicle with a shaft supported by brackets attached to the bed-plate thereof, said shaft provided with a gear-Wheel meshing with that of said axle and supporting a doublegearinglongitudinallyadjustableupon said shaft by means of a collar and springs and a rod and lever, a power-supplying shaft provided with a pinion engaging said double gearing, and means for operating and revolving said power-supplying shaft, all substantially as shown.

7. In a car or vehicle, the combination of a gear-wheel rigidly atlixed to the rear axle of said car or vehicle with a shaft supported by brackets attached to the bed-plate thereof, said shaft provided with a gear-wheel meshing with that of said axle and supporting a double friction-gearing longitudinally adjustable upon said journal by means of a collar and springs and a rod and lever, a power-su pplying shaft provided with a friction-pinion engaging said double-friction gearing, and means for operating and revolving said powersupplying shaft, all substantially as shown.

S. In a car or vehicle, the combination of a shaft provided with a pinion meshing with the gear-wheel of the rear axle and carrying a longitudinally-adjustable double frictiongearing, a power-supplying lshaft provided with afriction-pinion and havinga longitudinally-adjustable double friction-gearing engaging with a friction-pinion, and means for changing and controlling the lne or direction of the front axle and its wheels, all substantially as shown.

9. In a car or vehicle, the combination of a power-supplyin g shaft supported by brackets attached to the bed-plate, provided with a longitudinallyadjustable double frictiongearing held in place and adjustable upon said shaft by means of 'a sleeve or collar and adjacent springs and a rod and lever connected to said sleeve or collar, a shaft carrying at one end a friction-pinion engaging with said double friction-gearing and at the other end a beveled gear-pinion, a cross-shaft with a beveled gear-pinion meshing with said lastmentioned pinion and provided with a screwthread engaging the teeth of a sector attached to said front axle, and means for operating and revolving said power-supplying shaft, whereby the line and direction of said front axle may be changed as desired, all substantially as shown` l0. In a car or vehicle, a power-supplying shaft connected to the engine or motive power by a pitman, crank, and crank-pin, provided with an adjustable double gearing and a `pinion, in combination with an operating-shaft IOO IOS

IIO

having a longitudinally-adjustable gearing and connected by gearing with the rear axle, and a steering or guiding shaft provided with a pinion and connectedV by gearing with the front axle, whereby the motive power may operate the rear axle and wheels and also change the direction of the front axle and wheels, all substantially as shown.

11. In a car or vehicle, a power-supplying shaft connected to the engine or motive power by a pitman, crank, or crank-pin, provided with an adjustable double friction-gearing and a friction-pinion,in combination with an operating-shaft having a longitudinally-adj ustable double friction-gearing and connected by gearing with the rear axle, and a steering or guiding journal provided with a frictionpinion and connected bygearingwith the front axle, whereby the motive power may operate the rear axle and wheels and also change the direction of the front axle and wheels, all substantially as shown.

12. The combination of a shaft carrying at one end a longitudinally-adjnstable beveled pinion with a double frictional gearing provided with a hollow hub fitting upon said shaft and capable of longitudinal adjustment, but held in rotation with said shaft by means of a groove and a spline in said hub, a collar or sleeve upon the central portion of said hub, adjustable thereon, but firmly supported by Y spiral springs on either side thereof, an angular rod or arm connected with said sleeve or collar, and a lever to which saidangular rod or arm is connected,whereby said double frictional gearing can be adj usted longitudinally upon its shaft and caused to engage with a frictional pinion interposed between its interior faces, all substantially as shown.

13. In a .car or vehicle, a power-supplying shaft supported by brackets attached to the bed-plate, provided with a double gearing longitudinally adjustable upon said shaft by means of a sleeve or collar and supportingsprings and a lever connected with said sleeve or collar, in combination with a shaft provided at one end with a gearing engaging said double gearing and at the other with a beveled pinion engaging a beveled pinion upon a crossshaft provided with a screw-thread, and a sector rigidly attached to the front axle and provided with teeth engaging said screw-thread, all substantially as shown.

14. In a car or vehicle, a power-supplying shaft supported by brackets attached to the bed-plate, provided with a double frictiongearing longitudinally adjustable upon said shaft by means of a sleeve or collar and supporting-springs and a lever connected with said sleeve or collar, in combination with av shaft provided at one end with a frictional gearing engaging said double frictional gearing and at the other end with a bevel-pinion engaging a beveled pinion upon a cross-shaft axle and wheels may be changed, all substantially as shown.

16. In a car or vehicle, a double frictional gearing provided with a hollow hub, a sliding ring or collar of said hub, with means for connecting the same to a rod and lever, two springs located on said hub on opposite sides of said ring or collar, the bore of said hub being provided with a spline or groove, all substantially as shown.

17. In a car or vehicle, a double frictional gearing provided with a hub having ahollow bore and provided therein with a groove or spline, 'a sliding ring` or collar on said hub, with means for connecting the same to a rod and lever, anti-frictional rollers on each side of said ring or collar, and two springslocated on said hub on opposite sides of said ring or collar, and rollers, all substantially as shown.

18. In a car or vehicle, a bed-plate supported on the two axles thereof and their wheels,the rear axle provided with a gear-wheel, in combination with a power-supplying shaft having a pinion engaging with gear-wheel, an adjustable clutch operated by a lever, whereby said pinion and gear-wheel may be made to operatively engage and disengage, and means for operating and revolving said power-sup- Ioo` plying shaft and the devices connected therev with, all substantially as shown.

19. In a car or vehicle, abcd-plate supported by collars or hangers on the rear axles and its wheels and pivotally attached to the front axle and its wheels at and above the center of said axle, said axles each provided with a gear-wheel, in combination with two gearwheels supported in journals and located, respectively, above the centers of each axle, and means for connecting said last two gearwheels and transmitting the motion of one to the other, whereby the motion or revolutions of the gear-wheel of one axle are communicated to that of the other unaffected by any change of direction of such other axle, all substantially as shown.

HoMER L. BoYLE.

Witnesses:

J. ALAWRENCE GERRY, I. M. WESTEN.

IIO 

